Posted by: Ken Riter | September 1, 2011

Day One is Done! Where is the Fire Union Contract?


Day One is Done!! Where is the Fire Union Contract?

Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle was the first mayor in 30 years to get any concessions from the police or fire union. But the Omaha City Council decided they could do better, saying the magic word, taxpayer, despite the fact that the Fire Union has already lef t the negotiating tabe.  What stench of MagicThink is this?  Day One of the City Council being in charge is over, where is the Fire Contract?

And how is it leadership for the City Council to take a responsibility away from a leader and then hand it off to a 3rd party? This is not leadership, its vengeance, with a vengeance. The Fire Union has had testy relationships with some councilmembers, including Stothert and Jerram, the latter which the Fire Union only dumped a few weeks ago over an amendment to the original contract which killed it in a City Council vote. The proposal to remove the Mayor from the negotiating table was lead by Jerram.

While no one spoke up at the City Council to oppose the special proposal for the City Council to take back its negotiating authority, opponents have been outspoken in the aftermath.

One of them, Rich Ketter, posted this on Chris Jerram’s facebook page,” Even though they are now Born Again Union Haters, three members of the new Omaha Super Negotiators should recuse themselves to avoid the same impropriety that they claim the Mayor was involved with. Something about good for the Goose, Good for the Gander. Chris Jerram received more of the labor-business group’s money than anyone else on the Council. Jerram picked up $31,100, including $15,000 from the Fire Union. Jean Stothert received $1,250 from the Fire Union and Police Union.
Pete Festersen picked up $2,500 from the Fire Union”

Accusations over how Union campaign money influences the votes run high against the Mayor, but I think taxpayers will be hurt even more because the negotiator is no longer directly elected by the people.  Its assumed the Council may higher an outside negotiator, but once again, how is it leadership for the City Council to take a responsibility away from a leader and then hand it off to a 3rd party?

So what is this new City Council called?  The Jerram-Stothert-Mulligan-Thompson-Festersen Anti-Union Axis?
Why doesn’t the City Council just hire another group to act as City Council?

Posted from WordPress for Android

Leave a Comment

Posted in Omaha City Council | Tags: , , , , ,

Posted by: Ken Riter | August 30, 2011

Omaha City Council Takes Over Union Talks


The Omaha City Council took a bold move today and took over Union talks, stripping away the Mayor’s responsibility at the negotiating table.  Both Gernandt and Gray were out, so it was just a Council of Five members, Jean Stothert, Chris Jerram, Pete Festersen, Franklin Thompson and Thomas Mulligan.

Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle denounced the move to the Omaha World Herald: “How will this bring solvency to our pension system, stop spiking, and cut costs for taxpayers?” he said. “This administration has done what it can to get concessions from all three unions. This is not a simple or easy process. If the City Council thinks they can do a better job, they should be given the opportunity to do so.”  Suttle also noted to the Omaha World Herald,  his proposed agreement provided $66 million in savings and a pension-deficit-reduction plan and said the council was acting “without regard” to the benefits provided by his deal.

I think the Mayor is getting a raw deal, he worked hard and campaigned on getting a contract done with the OFD, all his hard work thrown away by people who will NEVER be at the negotiating table. All this will put in doubt Omaha’s credit rating, and more trouble with the Fire Union filing a complaint last week, and possible future involvement by the CIR.

Chris Jerram of District 3 and leader of the takeover tells Nebraska Watchdog, “he’s not sure if the fire union will renew talks.”

Just great.

I think having the mayor in charge of negotiations gave tax payers an elected official at the helm.  How many councilmembers will be at the negotiating table?  ZERO!!!   They will hire someone who is in it for the money, which means more taxpayers dollars going into an unelected officials’ pocket.    This city council couldn’t handle a no brainer civil rights issue, I doubt it can’t handle a fire union contract.  Not with all the political posturing, grandstanding and windbaggery going on.  This impasse is going to cost Omaha taxpayers $300 million because the police rightfully want to split the pension fund.  So, say good bye to Omaha’s once outstanding credit rating, and say goodbye to Suttle’s agreement that provided $66 million in savings!!!   Omaha’s City Council, screwing taxpayers since the last election.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Omaha City Council | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Ken Riter | August 25, 2011

August, a Small History of Progressive Heroes and Values.


August is the anniversary of the adoption of the 19th amendment, which granted women the right to vote, and the Memorial for Martin Luther King, Jr will be dedicated later this week and in 1775, also in history, August is the month King George III declared the American Colonies to be in a state of  open rebellion and the Banking Act of 1935 revises the Federal Reserve. I wonder how many TeaBaggers knew that?

The 19th Amendment was first drafted in 1878, by Susan B Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, but it wasn’t until 1919, when Congress approved the amendment proposal and submitted it to the states.  Tennessee provided the final ratification necessary to enact the amendment, on August 18th, 1920. Tennesee was the 36th state to ratify.   Nebraska was the 14th state to ratify on August 2nd, 1919.

The MLK Memorial has been a long time coming, starting with the man it commemorates to years of legislation, construction and donation for the final product.  A final product that etches in stone the legend who is America’s foremost defender of civil rights in America.   The official dedication will occur on Sunday, August 28, 2011, the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. King’s historic “I Have A Dream” speech. Its only good karma that the sitting President is black!

Leave a Comment

Posted in Progressive Heroes | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Ken Riter | August 22, 2011

What is it with Conservatives and Gay Heaven?


What is it with conservative family values and doing Freudian things when they think we aren’t looking?  From Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann chomping down on big phallic corndogs in Iowa, to closeted Republicans getting caught in gay sex scandals, it just never stops does it?  LOL!  Poor conservative blogger, Michelle Malkin says she’s had enough phallic corndog references.   I think the fun has only just begun this election cycle!

What is it with Rick Perry, weiners and Gay Heaven? Is Rick Perry trying to upstage Michele Bachmann in the pic above?  I think he has her beat!  What’s that saying?  There’s nothing but steers and queers in Texas!!!

Michele Bachmann looks like she’s about to gag on some Iowa CornDog. Perhaps its Freudian in all kinds of ways because this Tea Bagging Queen has a difficult time swallowing reality, the Iowa Straw poll just ain’t worth it, Honey! It is NOT the road to the White House!

A grim looking Mean Jean wonders where her weiner is at.

A very grim looking Mean Jean Stothert of Omaha wonders where her weiner is. Poor thing is left out of the limelight. No matter how many civl rights proposals or fire contracts she blocks, Family First will not fetch her that corndog.

Leave a Comment

Posted in Conservative Zeroes | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Posted by: Ken Riter | August 20, 2011

HRC tops off Omaha visit on Conagra Campus.


HRC topped off its Omaha visit on the Conagra Campus near Farnam and 10th Street with its final Omaha event.  Booths were filled by reps and volunteers from HRC, CFEP and Conagra.  HRC and CFEP were offering sign ups and other paraphenalia, while the Conagra booth was giving away free Marie Callender’s from its new line of Fresh Mixers. I snagged the Creamy Parmesan Chicken! Don’t forget to check out the big standing placards with interesting information and stats and the LGBT Community.

I’d like to thank all the people and organizations involved in this big HRC visit,  a big visit like this from an organization as large and gay as HRC has been long overdue.  The feeling of awesomeness and hope I felt seeing the HRC bus parked in Omaha city limits was very, very real and dear to me.

If you missed the Omaha visit, you can catch the HRC bus in Lincoln, tonight from 9:30pm – 1:00pm, UNL, Student Union, near S St. and 15th St.   The HRC Equality Bus will be parked on the plaza in front of the Student Union. On Sunday Aug, 21, at UNL’s Big Red Welcome 6:30pm – 10:30pm at Memorial Stadium, near the corner of 14th and Vine St.  HRC’s Equality Exhibit will be in front of Memorial Stadium. See HRC in Nebraska.

HRC at Conagra

The Booths at HRC's Conagra event.

Leave a Comment

Posted in LGBT Queer issues | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Categories